Our campuses are located in the Austin, Englewood, North Lawndale, and West Humboldt Park neighborhoods. KIPP Chicago also advises nearly 3,000 KIPP alumni currently in high school or college through our KIPP Forward program.
Rashid Bell serves as the Chief Executive Officer at KIPP Chicago, bringing over a decade of proven leadership within the organization. Rashid joined KIPP Chicago in 2011 as the founding Assistant Principal at KIPP Ascend Primary, following his service as a Teach for America corps member, where he taught 4th and 5th grades in Newark, NJ.
Recognized for his exceptional leadership, Rashid was selected for the prestigious Fisher Family Fellowship by the national KIPP Foundation in 2015. Following the completion of this fellowship, he founded KIPP One Primary in 2016. Under Rashid’s leadership, KIPP One received the highest possible school quality rating (Level 1+) for three consecutive years and was recognized as the highest-ranked public school in Chicago for two consecutive years. His regional influence expanded as Head of Schools and later Senior Head of Schools, where he managed Principals and spearheaded initiatives focused on implementing new ELA and Math curricula, driving post-COVID academic recovery, and improving student attendance.
As CEO, Rashid is committed to building upon KIPP Chicago’s strong foundation while innovating to meet the evolving needs of students and families. He leads KIPP Chicago’s strategic vision, overseeing all schools and programs while ensuring educational excellence across the network. His leadership approach emphasizes transparency, purpose, and a deep commitment to KIPP Chicago’s mission of providing high-quality education that empowers students to create the futures they envision for themselves.
Rashid earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from Wilberforce University and his Master of Arts from National Louis University.
Becky Fussner serves as the Chief Academic Officer at KIPP Chicago. Becky first joined KIPP in 2016 as a Founding Kindergarten Teacher at KIPP One Primary. Previously, she served as a Teach for America corps member in Indianapolis and also taught at Galapagos Charter School in Chicago. Throughout her tenure, Becky has served as Grade Level Chair, Assistant Principal, and, most recently, as School Leader, before transitioning to lead academics across the region.
Peter Gooden is KIPP Chicago’s Chief of College & Career Readiness. He joined KIPP Chicago in 2010 as the Director of Alumni Services, and later spent 4 years as the Director of KIPP Forward. In that role he managed the KIPP Forward team to support high school access & persistence, college placement & persistence, and career advancement for 1,500 KIPP Chicago alumni. Previously, Peter spent years working with KIPP NYC as the KIPP Forward Alumni counselor and with the University of Chicago Charter School as the 6to16 Advisor, where he helped to develop lessons for the 6to16 curriculum and created a higher education culture at Carter G. Wilson Middle School. As a first generation US citizen, high school graduate, and college graduate, Peter has worked tirelessly to support equity and accessibility in higher education.
Jennifer Hodges serves as Chief Program Officer with KIPP Chicago. She leads the convening of educators, families, policymakers, and community members in partnership to strategically influence the long-term success of students. Her work centers the needs of KIPP students, families, and teachers, ensuring holistic development of all stakeholders and to improve student outcomes and increase the economic, political, and social capacity of households.
Prior to joining KIPP Jennifer was Director of Corporate Development at United Way of Metro Chicago. She had direct management of a corporate fundraising team with oversight of $16 million of the annual $40 million revenue goal; co-led a $32 million national account management strategy across 14 U.S. markets, and co-founded and co-chaired United Way’s internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies. Jennifer began her professional career with six years in the financial industry, where she worked in wealth management at Greenleaf Trust and upon relocating to Chicago, Jennifer joined Gray & Company, an investment consulting firm.
Ellen Sale joined KIPP Chicago in 2013 after serving in the Mississippi delta as a Teach for America corps member, holding programmatic and coaching roles with Teach for America nationally, and teaching five years at Noble Street Rauner College Prep, where she founded the AP World History program and led the network in annual sophomore reading growth. In 2010 she was honored as TFA Chicago Alumni Distinguished Teacher and chosen as a Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellow. She was awarded the Fisher Family Fellowship in 2012, founded KIPP Bloom College Prep in 2013, and served as Principal for 7 years — leading KIPP Bloom to a Level 1+ rating in consecutive years. Prior to becoming KIPP Chicago’s Chief People Officer, Ellen was Head of Talent.
Michael Salmonowicz is KIPP Chicago’s Chief Financial & Operations Officer, and is in his 16th year with KIPP. A Teach For America alumnus, he has been a high school teacher in Chicago; a researcher with the University of Virginia and the University of Chicago’s Consortium on School Research; and a consultant to New Leaders, DonorsChoose.org, and school districts across the country. He was a Director of Finance & Operations, Data Analyst, and Managing Director of Operations at KIPP Chicago prior to taking on his current role. He earned his BA from the University of Michigan, his MA from National Louis University, and his PhD from the University of Virginia.
Camille Allen is the School Leader at KIPP Academy Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. From 2018-2022, Camille served as Assistant Principal at KAC. Camille relocated back to her hometown of Chicago in 2018 from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was the Assistant Principal at KIPP North Star Academy. Prior to becoming an Assistant Principal, Camille taught 6th grade Reading and Math in Minneapolis. Her career in education began in 2011 in Huntsville, AL, where she worked as a fourth-grade teacher.
Camille is an alum of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Elementary Education.
Tessa Catlett is Head of Schools at KIPP Chicago. Tessa began her teaching career in 2011 as a Teach For America corps member in St. Louis. She joined the KIPP Chicago team & family in 2013 as a 3rd-grade teacher at KIPP Ascend Primary, and then became an Assistant Principal there. In 2017, Tessa was awarded a Fisher Family Fellowship, and in 2018 she became founding School Leader of KIPP Bloom Primary, KIPP Chicago’s first South Side elementary school. She spent 6 years as School Leader, while also serving as the Primary Literacy Achievement Director for KIPP Chicago, where she supported primary schools in adopting a more aligned and research-based approach to early literacy instruction. Tessa earned her BA from the University of Michigan and her MA from Columbia University.
Rebecca Cowell is the School Leader of KIPP One Academy. Rebecca joined KIPP Chicago in 2005 as a science teacher at KIPP Ascend, and in subsequent years designed the school’s science curriculum, taught at each grade level 5-8, and served as a Grade Level Chair and Department Chair. She was the founding 9th-grade biology Teacher at KIPP LEAD College Prep HS in Gary, IN, before returning to KIPP Ascend as a Teacher, Department Chair, and regional Curriculum Developer. Rebecca then served as an Assistant Principal for four years and took on the role of Principal from 2019-2024.
Michallé Fain is the School Leader of KIPP Bloom Primary and a member of the KIPP Chicago Class of 2008. As a KIPP alumna, she brings a unique perspective to her leadership, having experienced firsthand the transformative power of an excellent education. She is passionate about ensuring every student has access to that same life-changing opportunity.
Now in her 11th year with KIPP Chicago, Ms. Fain is beginning her first year as School Leader of KIPP Bloom Primary. She began her career as a founding teacher at KIPP One Primary, where she taught every grade from Kindergarten through 4th grade. She later served as an Assistant Principal, completed KIPP Chicago’s Principal-in-Residence program, and was named School Leader of KIPP One Primary. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to developing strong instructional leaders, empowering teachers through coaching, and creating joyful, high-achieving school communities.
As she begins this new chapter at KIPP Bloom Primary, Ms. Fain leads with a vision rooted in belonging, excellence, and limitless potential. She is dedicated to fostering a school where every student, family, and staff member feels known, valued, and empowered to grow. Her leadership centers on building strong relationships, developing exceptional educators, and ensuring every child experiences rigorous, engaging instruction that prepares them to thrive in school and beyond.
Guided by her own journey as a KIPP student, Ms. Fain remains committed to ensuring every KIPPster (KIPP Bloom Eagle) experiences the opportunities, support, and high-quality education needed to discover their potential and shape a bright future.
Alana Harwood will serve as the Interim School Leader at KIPP One Primary (KOP) for the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Alana joined KIPP Chicago in the summer of 2025 as the Achievement Director of K-2 Math and Literacy, bringing a deep background in primary education and leadership. She entered the field of education as a Teach for America corps member in Milwaukee, and went on to build a well-rounded career across several charter networks, serving as a Special Education Teacher, Reading Interventionist, Assistant Principal, and Principal.
Alana holds a BA in Political Science and Education from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch University, and an MS in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Heather Hawkins is the School Leader of KIPP Ascend Middle School. Heather began her teaching career at KIPP Chicago Public Schools nearly a decade ago as a founding teacher at KIPP One Academy. She joined the KIPP Ascend Middle School team as an Assistant Principal. Since joining the KIPP Ascend team, she has consistently created an environment that fosters both love and high accountability among students and staff. Her dedication and tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she was part of the inaugural KIPP Chicago Principal-in-Residence cohort.
Jarell Lee is the founding School Leader of KIPP Academy Chicago Primary, a school built on the values of love, joy, and community. Previously, Jarell worked for KIPP New Jersey, where he served as the Principal of KIPP Life Academy and as an assistant school leader at KIPP Seek Academy.
Prior to joining the KIPP team, Jarell taught second grade at Uncommon Schools’ Excellence Boys Elementary Academy as a Teach For America Corps Member. He also led the third-grade team, developed a character education system, and led school-wide joy initiatives to engage students in school culture. Jarell also served as the founding dean of school culture at Achievement First’s Aspire Elementary School, where he created systems and rituals to invest students and to support struggling students. Additionally, Jarell coached teachers as the first-grade academic dean.
Jarell received a BA in Sociology & African-American Studies from Harvard University, an MS in Elementary Education from Teacher University at Hunter College, and a Master’s in Supervision and Administration from the University of Houston.
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that work in collaboration with school districts. Enrollment is open to all students. Charter schools are independently operated and managed with more flexibility than traditional public schools in exchange for increased accountability.
The “charter” that establishes each school is a contract detailing the school’s mission, program, performance goals, and assessment methods. The charter contract is an operating agreement between the charter school and an “authorizer,” which holds charter schools accountable for compliance with their charter contract. An authorizer is an entity that, subject to state law, may be a district school board, university, Mayor’s office, or non-profit organization. KIPP Chicago’s authorizer is Chicago Public Schools.
Like all public schools, charter schools are:
All KIPP schools are public charter schools. And yet, not all public charter schools are like KIPP. KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public schools educating nearly 125,000 students in grades Prek-12 across 28 regions.